Bike the Parks

Ride types

Road riding in the national parks

National parks where road riding is the draw: scenic drives, high passes and long climbs. Most park roads have no shoulder, so ride early and single file.

Road rides in these parks

  • Park Loop Road

    • Acadia
    • 27 mi full loop
    • Hard

    The park's scenic paved drive past Sand Beach, Otter Cliff and Jordan Pond. It is open to bikes but has no shoulder, tight bends and heavy car traffic, so NPS advises avoiding roughly 10 am to 4 pm; the steep spur up Cadillac Mountain is a serious undertaking.

  • Island in the Sky Road

    • Canyonlands
    • Moderate

    A short paved road across the mesa top to some of the park's biggest views. No shoulders; ride single file.

  • Going-to-the-Sun Road: Lake McDonald Lodge to Logan Pass

    • Glacier
    • 21 mi one way
    • 3,427 ft climbing
    • Hard

    The classic west-side climb up the Garden Wall to the Continental Divide. In spring you may only get as far as the current closure point.

  • Going-to-the-Sun Road: Rising Sun to Logan Pass

    • Glacier
    • 11.5 mi one way
    • 2,313 ft climbing
    • Hard

    The shorter, steadier east-side approach above St. Mary Lake.

  • Teton Park Road (spring, car-free)

    • Grand Teton
    • Moderate

    Closed to cars from November 1 to May 1. Once cleared of snow (usually by April 1) it's open to bikes, walkers and skaters.

  • Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway

    • Redwood
    • 10 mi one way
    • 400 ft climbing
    • Easy

    A mostly flat parkway through Prairie Creek's old-growth groves, open to cyclists year-round. The northern mile climbs and descends over 400 feet.

  • Trail Ridge Road

    • Rocky Mountain
    • Hard

    The high road over the Divide, topping out above 12,000 feet. Seasonal: it closes in winter.

  • Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

    • Zion
    • Moderate

    The canyon floor ride to the Temple of Sinawava. In shuttle season you share it only with buses; pull over and stop completely when one comes up behind you.

  • Kolob Terrace Road

    • Zion
    • Hard

    A long climb from the town of Virgin into the park's quieter high country.

  • Kolob Canyons Road

    • Zion
    • Moderate

    A short, steep scenic road into the red finger canyons of the park's northwest corner.

  • Panther Junction to Rio Grande Village

    • Big Bend
    • 20 mi one way
    • Easy

    Mostly downhill, losing about 1,900 feet to the river; plan a shuttle or a long climb back. NPS estimates 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

  • Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to Castolon

    • Big Bend
    • 35 mi from Panther Junction
    • Hard

    A strenuous paved ride past mountain viewpoints to the historic Castolon area near Santa Elena Canyon. Allow 3 to 6 hours.

  • Chisos Basin climb

    • Big Bend
    • 20 mi round trip from Panther Junction
    • 1,650 ft climbing
    • Hard

    The park's big climb, with grades up to 15 percent and a 45 mph speed limit for the cars beside you.

  • Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive

    • Bryce Canyon
    • Hard

    The park road continues south from the path's end, climbing gradually toward Rainbow Point with viewpoints on the left. Shared with cars; little shoulder.

  • Scenic Drive and spur roads

    • Capitol Reef
    • 28.8 mi round trip including Grand Wash, Capitol Gorge and Pleasant Creek spurs
    • Moderate

    7.9 miles of pavement each way plus three unpaved spurs into canyons, returning the same way. Heavy traffic April to October, except on Reef Ride days.

  • Rim Drive

    • Crater Lake
    • 33 mi loop
    • 3,900 ft climbing
    • Hard

    A full loop of the caldera between 6,450 and 7,700 feet (Cloudcap). Steady climbs, big views, and no shoulders.

  • East Rim car-free (Ride the Rim)

    • Crater Lake
    • 24 mi car-free section
    • Hard

    On Ride the Rim days the East Rim Drive closes to cars, leaving 24 miles of road to riders.

  • Badwater Road

    • Death Valley
    • Moderate

    South along the valley floor to the lowest point in North America. Flat-ish but exposed.

  • Artists Drive

    • Death Valley
    • 9 mi one way
    • Moderate

    A one-way loop with short steep climbs through the multicolored Artist's Palette hills.

  • Paved Park Road to Savage River

    • Denali
    • 15 mi one way
    • Moderate

    The paved section, open to private cars, with views of the Alaska Range on clear days.

  • Hermit Road

    • Grand Canyon
    • 7 mi one way, Village to Hermits Rest
    • Moderate

    A rolling rim road past a string of overlooks. Private cars are restricted most of the year; pull right and stop for shuttle buses.

  • Chain of Craters Road

    • Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
    • Hard

    A long descent across lava flows to the coast, then the climb back. Hot and exposed lower down.

  • Crater Rim Drive

    • Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
    • Moderate

    Around the open sections of Kīlauea's summit caldera. Busiest 10 am to 3 pm.

  • Lassen Park Highway (full)

    • Lassen Volcanic
    • 30 mi one way, southwest entrance to Manzanita Lake
    • Hard

    Up to the Lassen Peak parking area at 8,511 feet and down the other side.

  • Southwest Entrance to Bumpass Hell / Lassen Peak lot

    • Lassen Volcanic
    • 7 mi one way (spring section)
    • Hard

    A popular spring out-and-back past Sulphur Works, often between high snowbanks.

  • Loomis Plaza to Devastated Area

    • Lassen Volcanic
    • 10 mi one way (spring section)
    • Moderate

    The north side's spring section, climbing to the 1915 eruption's Devastated Area.

  • Cave Country Bicycle Route (USBR 23)

    • Mammoth Cave
    • 109 mi total
    • Hard

    A signed US Bicycle Route through cave country on park and county roads.

  • Cactus Forest Loop Drive

    • Saguaro
    • 8 mi one-way loop
    • Moderate

    A narrow paved loop with tight turns and steep hills through a classic saguaro forest. A favorite Tucson road ride.

  • Skyline Drive

    • Shenandoah
    • 105 mi end to end
    • Hard

    Ridge-crest riding with long climbs and descents, ridden in sections or as a multi-day tour.

  • Spring car-free: West Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs

    • Yellowstone
    • 49 mi one way
    • Hard

    Past the Madison and Gibbon rivers and Norris to Mammoth, with no public cars. Services are 20 to 30 miles apart and you'll still meet plows and staff vehicles.

  • Spring car-free: East Entrance to Sylvan Pass

    • Yellowstone
    • 6 mi one way
    • Hard

    A short, steep climb toward Sylvan Pass from the Cody side.

  • Fall car-free: Madison Junction to Old Faithful

    • Yellowstone
    • 16 mi one way
    • Moderate

    Part of the fall window: along the Firehole River past geyser basins.

  • Arches Scenic Drive

    • Arches
    • Hard

    The main park road, with a stiff climb up the switchbacks above the visitor center and rolling miles past the park's best-known viewpoints. There's no shoulder, so ride early.

  • Badlands Loop Road (Hwy 240)

    • Badlands
    • Moderate

    Narrow and curvy with little shoulder, past the park's best formations. Some passes climb 250 feet in under 500 meters.

  • Cades Cove Loop Road

    • Great Smoky Mountains
    • 11 mi one-way loop
    • Moderate

    A one-way paved circuit around a broad mountain valley dotted with log cabins, churches and wildlife meadows. On vehicle-free Wednesdays (May 6 to September 30, 2026) it belongs to bikes and walkers; on other days you share it with slow, heavy car traffic. Pack food, water and a repair kit because there are no services on the loop and little cell signal.

  • Summit road: Headquarters to Haleakalā Visitor Center

    • Haleakalā
    • Hard

    The final, high-altitude part of the climb, on a narrow winding road with little shoulder. Most riders start much lower, near the coast.

  • Nisqually Entrance to Paradise

    • Mount Rainier
    • 19 mi one way
    • 3,400 ft climbing
    • Hard

    The classic climb through old-growth forest to the subalpine meadows at Paradise.

  • SR 410 to Sunrise

    • Mount Rainier
    • 20 mi one way
    • 3,650 ft climbing
    • Hard

    Up to the park's highest road point, with close-up views of Emmons Glacier. Sunrise Road opens in summer only.

  • North Cascades Highway (SR 20)

    • North Cascades
    • Hard

    Steep, sometimes busy climbs out of the Skagit gorge with little shoulder and limited sight lines. Remote: carry food, water and tools.

  • Stehekin Valley Road

    • North Cascades
    • Easy

    A quiet ride up a roadless valley reached only by boat or floatplane from Chelan.

  • Hurricane Ridge Road

    • Olympic
    • Hard

    A long, steady climb to subalpine meadows and Olympic Mountain views. The Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge burned in 2023; check road access before you go.

  • Main park road

    • Petrified Forest
    • 28 mi one way, Painted Desert to Rainbow Forest
    • Moderate

    The park's only through road, linking the Painted Desert overlooks with the petrified wood areas in the south. Exposed and often windy.

  • South Unit Scenic Drive

    • Theodore Roosevelt
    • Moderate

    The main road through the South Unit's badlands. Check conditions: sections have closed for road failures and rebuilding in recent years.

  • North Unit Scenic Drive

    • Theodore Roosevelt
    • Moderate

    A quieter out-and-back to views over the Little Missouri River.

  • South Rim Road

    • Black Canyon of the Gunnison
    • Moderate

    A rolling rim road past a dozen overlooks into the canyon. Short, scenic, and best early before traffic builds.

  • Bonita Canyon Road to Massai Point

    • Chiricahua
    • 8 mi one way from the entrance
    • Hard

    The park's scenic drive, narrowing and climbing steeply near the top. Vehicles over 24 feet are barred beyond the campground, which keeps big RVs off the upper road.

  • Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive

    • Great Basin
    • Hard

    A long, steep climb into the subalpine zone. Allowed, but the park advises against it: the road is narrow with regular blind curves. Make sure drivers can see you.

  • Hot Springs Mountain and North Mountain roads

    • Hot Springs
    • Moderate

    Steady climbs with moderate traffic to overlooks above the town.

  • Exit Glacier Road

    • Kenai Fjords
    • Easy

    The park's only road, along the Resurrection River to a bike rack at the trailhead.

  • Kings Canyon Scenic Byway to Cedar Grove

    • Kings Canyon
    • Hard

    A long descent into the canyon along the South Fork of the Kings River, and an equally long climb back. Open seasonally.

  • Main park road to Chapin Mesa

    • Mesa Verde
    • Hard

    A demanding climb with steep grades, a tunnel and no shoulders. The museum and headquarters area is about 21 miles in.

  • Generals Highway: Ash Mountain to Giant Forest

    • Sequoia
    • Hard

    A sustained climb of thousands of feet on a narrow, winding road. Ride early, before traffic.

  • US Highway 385

    • Wind Cave
    • Moderate

    The park's easiest road ride, with wide shoulders.

  • Entrance road climb

    • Carlsbad Caverns
    • 7 mi White's City to the visitor center
    • Hard

    A steep, narrow and winding road up Walnut Canyon to the visitor center. Shared with all park traffic.

Other ride types